So far, the Intel-based ultrabook market has been very small and few consumers have jumped on the “thin and light” bandwagon. While the market as a whole isn’t exactly setting sales records, Dell is bragging that XPS 13 ultrabook sales have been higher than its initial projections. The XPS 13 is made using aluminum and carbon fiber for strength and reduced weight.

Dell says that demand has been about three times what it expected for the machines.

"We can't build enough of them at the moment," said Sam Burd, vice president of Dell's Consumer and SMB product group. "A little bit less than 3X the expected demand," he said.

Dell won't provide specific numbers on the units it's selling, but greater than expected demand is a good sign for ultrabook makers overall. One of the main things that have been holding ultrabooks back from adoption by mainstream users has been the price of entry. The ultrabook was originally expected at around $600 and many of the first units to hit the market were significantly more than that amount.

Analyst Stephen Baker from NPD Group says that he's optimistic about ultrabooks in the long run. He also notes the computer makers need to focus on fewer models and more profitability for each product they do offer. "Look at the iPad. People are willing to pay $600 or $700 for something that gives them a great experience. Something that looks good and makes them feel comfortable and confident.”

The XPS 13 isn't cheap ultrabook with prices starting at $999. Most of the sales that are driving the machine's success are coming out of large corporate accounts according to Burd.

The ultrabook market is expected to benefit significantly from Intel's Ivy Bridge processors.

Also, the aside about business/enterprise support is BS. It has Office, loads of offices here use it. As for other things, I dunno, maybe businesses outside of California don't feel *nix is that important. Nearly every web and backend developer I know here uses a Mac. My Googler friends all work on Macs, but maybe that's not a real business...

"Also, the aside about business/enterprise support is BS. It has Office, loads of offices here use it. As for other things"

I'll give you some of the points you made in the post above as personal opinion/preference but, LOL... MS Office? You don't even know what business is. It's enterprise and all systems that run with it. Call me when the plants that build Mac's and iPhones can do it without PC's and the Win based servers the world runs on. Call me when they come out with the accounting, procurement, logistics, reverse logistics, inventory, shop floor, CRM software etc. comes out on any other platform and integrates it all in to one working ecosystem, AND supports it... No one else is even close, no one else has even started to try it.